BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

General Information

City of Oak Ridge Boards and Commissions are authorized by City Council. At present, there are 17 such boards and commissions in the City, but the Council can create other boards as it deems necessary. Oak Ridge residency is required for appointment to a City Board or Commission (except for the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Hotel/Motel Representation and the Trade Licensing Board, under certain circumstances), and the members serve without compensation.

A resident of the City desiring to be a candidate for Council appointments to a board or a commission must submit the required application to the City Clerk’s Office in the Municipal Building by the deadline advertised. Additional information may be included as part of the application process. The application process will be posted on the City Clerk’s Departmental website outlining said information. A city-wide recruitment process will take place prior to the deadline and will include ads, press releases, and various website posts on the City’s website.

An end-of-year election will occur at a regular meeting of City Council held in January with the agenda packet containing all information received from applicants during the recruitment, sample ballot(s) or ballots, as well as an attendance record of interested incumbents for their most recent term of office. Following the election, appropriate letters shall be sent to all applicants from the City Clerk informing them of the outcome of the special meeting of City Council.

Members:

Purpose:

The purpose of the Board is to act on matters where the Zoning Ordinance provides for administrative review, interpretation, exception, or special permit. Decisions are not subject to review by another city governmental body, but they can be appealed through the court system. The Board's record of actions are available for public examination at the office of the Planning Division of Community Development. The Board does not have the power to change the zoning classification of any property or to make any changes in the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.

Composition:

The Board is comprised of five (5) members. Members are elected by Council for five-year staggered terms of office. Three (3) members constitute a quorum and the concurring vote of three (3) members is required for any board action.

Agendas, Minutes & Other Documents:

Non-City Created Boards

Anderson County Board of Equalization

Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated §67-1-401, Council appoints one (1) of the five (5) members to this Board. The appointee must be an Oak Ridge resident and a "freeholder and taxpayer." The term of office is for a two-year term.

Member Name

Term End

Kathy Edwards

Dec 31, 2019

Anderson County Community Action Commission

This Commission is required by Tennessee law to have a Board of Directors comprised of eighteen (18) public and private agency representatives. One (1) seat is reserved for a Council appointee who must be an Oak Ridge resident and may be a member of Council. The term of office is a one-year term.

Member Name

Term End

Susan Asbury

Dec 31, 2019

Anderson County Development Corporation

Member Name

Term End

Richard Chinn

Dec 31, 2021

Thomas Tuck

Dec 31, 2021

Anderson County Economic Development Association

The City is allocated four (4) of the twenty-five (25) seats on the Board of Directors of ACEDA. Council has elected to have the Mayor serve as one of the four (4) appointments, with the other three (3) appointments being at-large from Oak Ridge residents or members of Council.

Member Name

Term End

Leonard Abbatiello

Dec 31, 2019

Karen Crutchfield

Dec 31, 2020

Eric Tobler

Dec 31, 2021

Anderson County Regional Solid Waste Planning Board

Member Name

Term End

Shira McWaters

Sep 01, 2019

Oak Ridge Heritage Railroad Authority

Member Name

Term End

Gordon Fee

Dec 31, 2019

Mike Magill

Jul 09, 2021

Oak Ridge Utility District

ORUD was created for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, bettering, extending, repairing, maintaining, and operating a gas system within the City Limits. By State law, the Board of Commissioners for ORUD consists of five (5) members, who are Oak Ridge residents, appointed by Council. Members are appointed as follows: thirty (30) days prior to expiration of a term of office, the City Manager meets with the Board of Commissioners (absent the outgoing member) to nominate a successor by majority vote. Council approves the nominee.